Quick Stick Deodorant

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In the DIY world of home health and beauty products, deodorant seems to be the the most feared replacement. Stinking is NOT OKAY in our culture, right?

But aluminum crammed in your pores cannot be good for you, and it seems in recent years that store-bought deodorant is becoming less and less effective anyway. This deodorant uses a natural moisture absorber (cornstarch), a natural deodorizer (baking soda), and a natural anti-bacteria/fungal oil (tea tree oil) to keep any stink from developing in the first place.

So, here’s what I suggest….make this stuff ahead and use it on SATURDAY, or a sick day, or any day you aren’t going to see anyone special, so you’ll feel secure and not look like a nut obsessively sniffing your underarms all day. Once you get over the stink phobia, let your body get used to it, and you’ll never go back.

Homemade Stick Deodorant

1. Put 1/4 cup each of baking soda and cornstarch** in a bowl with 10+ drops tea tree oil. (I like 20 drops, but I’m a tea tree oil nut. I hear lavender oil will work as well.)

2. This deodorant can be used as a powder, but if you want a stick, go to the shortening section of the store and buy this solid-at-room-temperature-awesome stuff:

3. Stir 2+ TBSP in until it’s the consistency you like.

4. Smash into empty deodorant container. (Will be a bit sturdier once it sets a day or so.)

When applying this deodorant, use a lighter hand than you would with normal stick deodorant, especially the first couple of days or it’ll drop little balls on your bathroom rug.

Used correctly, this stuff is invisible and lasts for ages, as it works with a very light layer. You should not be able to SEE it once applied.

**If you have especially sensitive skin, increase the amount of cornstarch to 6T and decrease the baking soda to 2T.

Wonderful!! I used lavender, since that is what I had on hand. Hubby used it before doing concrete work, and it worked surprisingly well. Works better on him that it does on me, but it is nice to know it is safer to use. My teens are using it now.
THanks for the great tip!

Holy moly, this stuff works! It’s just as effective as that aluminum-ikky stuff I used to use. And works much better than any natural types I’ve bought. Plus, it smells good – tto and coconut sounded like a strange combo, but it’s really nice.
Thank you so much!

@Kitter—YAY!!! I have to tell you. I was about to NOT post this. I thought that NO ONE would want it. I thought, well heck, maybe one or two will appreciate it…and it’s one of our most popular recipes! HA!

@ Shylee–I just sniffed my coconut oil. I can’t smell a thing. But, I get my essential oils from Amazon. And I used to use the powder form. It worked just fine, but it was a bit messy. That and if you have really sensitive skin like mine, you need the moisturizing oil to keep away the itchies.

I can’t believe it. I really can’t. It honestly works! I’m so excited! I’ve always used regular women’s deodorant and just lived with the nastiness in my skin. Now I not only have a cheap alternative, but one that is not going to have lasting effects! I am so excited about this! I don’t have any stains on my clothing; and although I used about 20 drops of tea tree oil, I cannot smell deodorant or body odor! THANK YOU!

I absolutly love this deodorant! My husband and I both use it. I also try to push it on anyone who comes to the house. I have noticed that it does not nest into the arm pits of his t-shirts like his old deodorant did. You should get a medal!

I made this yesterday, and I love it already. I used about 2 T. each of beeswax and vegetable oil instead of the coconut oil because I wanted a higher melting point (I travel a lot and don’t want to risk it melting in a hot car) and because I don’t have coconut oil. Next time I make it I might try mixing in less beeswax or a little more oil (I might try the coconut oil), since it’s a little hard to put on. It works pretty well. The place where I work gets really hot, so I need something that works. It stopped working about mid-afternoon, which is much longer than other deodorants I have used, but I think that’s because I didn’t apply enough. Thanks for the recipe!

Ivory Soap, I live in hot Nebraska, but the Lou Ana Coconut oil I found, which looked just like what was in your picture, was at Wal Mart and liquid at room temp. Is your’s like Crisco solid? Thanks for your help. I really want to make this for the hubby who can’t wear commercial deoderants.
I love your blog. We used to live in the city and had chickens for a while there. Now we live in the country and have lots of chickens that we raise to feed the foxes, bob cats and coyotes!!!!! They are kind enough to “share” a few eggs with us now and then.

I’ve been using a mix of bicarb (what we call baking soda) and a bit of cornflour for years now – mix it up in a shaker with big holes, and put it on like you’d put talc on. Works better than any deodrant or antiperspirant I’ve ever used. No smell at all. No matter how hot and sticky it gets.

It also doesn’t leave a residue on your clothes like deo/antiperspirants can.

I’ve used straight bicarb too, and fine for me, but my hubby gets a rash from it unless it’s diluted with the cornflour (too alkaline for him).

This recipe looks great too – going to have to give it a go. Might be easier for trips away (rather than having a powder leak out in toiletries bag). Thank you!

Yay! I’ve become resistant to so many deodorants on the “market”. I’ve even tried the rock crystal one and various ‘natural-herbal’ types and either rash out or they’re ineffective. Thanks for the recipes and all the poster comments. I’m going to try this today, with lavender as I prefer the smell of it to the tea tree oil. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks again. Here’s another product to cross off my ‘be a consumer list” xox

This will definately help with the “itchies” because extra virgin coconut oil is extremely anti-fungal/anti-candida, etc. I’ve been using straight baking soda mixed with a drop of water but want to try this one because I miss the scentiness (Lavender is my fav.)

I love this stuff! I don’t have sensitive skin so the baking soda is fine for me, but it’s nice to know about the cornstarch addition. If you’re having trouble finding coconut oil, I recommend using shea butter. It’s what I use and can be found in any natural food store I believe.

What about cocoa butter? Mom uses that for salves sometimes. You’d probably have to mix it with something to soften it though.
I am also resistant to most deoderants. I have to coat it on. Even then it doesn’t work very well. I really hope we can try this soon! It sounds like a unanimously great recipe! 😀

Thanks a million for this DIY stuff, indeed so effective without the sticky mess of commercial deodorants. I substituted tea tree oil with eucalyptus oil and it is still great. No underarm odor for 24 hours!

This concoction works great! After 24 hours, my underarm is still completely bereft of bad smell. Thanks a million! By the way, I substituted tea tree oil with eucalyptus oil since it is abundant here in our country and I do love the mentholated scent.

I was thinking Shea butter would be great since it would smooth the under arm area as well, and should be great for the itchiness—I was going to mix up some tomorrow so I think I’ll try that instead and let you know how it turns out.

I just started making my own deodorant and love it. I’ve never found anything that work even remotely as well. I make mine with baking soda, cornstarch essential oils and olive oil. It is runny but if you apply a thin layer with your fingers, which is all you need, it absorbs instantly. No icky residue at all.

Hey, this sounds interesting! One big question though, does this stuff also keep your shirt from getting wet? I love the idea, I’ve been looking for something natural for a while, but wet underarms are very embarassing! Thanks!

This looks great and I can’t wait to try it — as well as your homemade liquid soap. I’m wondering…can the same coconut oil be used for both recipes?

Also…do you make homemade laundry soap? I started making my own last January and I love it. My daughter and I haven’t used anything else since then. I first heard about it when the Duggar parents were on ‘The View’. I began an online investigation and after some experimentation came up with a recipe and consistency I love. It’s really inexpensive and does a great job.

I also make homemade fabric softener — recipe courtesy of Suzanne @ At Home with the Farmer’s Wife. I love the stuff — it also does a great job and is very inexpensive.

Well…..now that I’m fully awake and have done more exploring, I see that you do make your own laundry soap! The recipe is nearly the same as mine. I encourage everyone to try this. It really does work!

Unfortunately, I’m still getting a rash while using this. Any ideas which of the ingredients could be causing this?

(also noticed that the coconut oil seeped out of the bottom for a few days even with it by the air conditioner — NOW-brand Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, unrefined — picked it up at GNC — was solid when I purchased it. I guess it has a low melting point)

Awesome! I was so tired of the film that the drug store variety anti-perspirants/deodorants left and I was tired of the natural ones not working. I used this for the first time today and was out in the MA summer sun and no odor! Yeah! Finally something that works and is good for my skin.

Okay–I’m making up my second batch today and so far, so good. I do still have wet armpits sometimes, but no smell whatsoever and I like that I know exactly what is in it and that I can use what I’ve got to make it work for me. I may try the shea butter next go-around as we’re all out, because down here in FL it is SOOO hot that my entire bottle of coconut oil is liquid and I noticed my stick of deodorant was leaking a little the other day.
Thanks for a great way to help out my pits, my wallet and the earth in general! Love y’all!

@jason–did you use the sensitive skin version? Unless you have a corn allergy (which I would think you would know way before now), it’s the baking soda. Cut it with more cornstarch. I have really sensitive skin and I seriously dilute the baking soda. It’s like four or five to one.

@I don’t think it works as well without an antibacterial essential oil, but I might be in the minority. Try it without. Might be just fine. Otherwise, just google the antibacterial essential oils and find one you don’t mind.

@JP: try ethnic stores. Anything that caters to southern Asian or South American descendants aught to have some. Beauty supply places may have some, too, but are likely to add things to the oil.

I’ll have to try making this stuff. If it works well, it will pay for itself by the 2nd “stick.” The only kind I can use that doesn’t irritate my skin after awhile is unscented Kiss My Face. It works great, but is hard to find and expensive.

great recipe! keeps me from getting stinky. i used tea tree oil, lavender, and just a touch of sweet orange oil for brightness. my apartment is a little too warm to keep the coconut oil solid so i’ve been keeping the deodorant stick in the fridge. i take it out while i shower and it loosens up just enough to apply it easily but still remains cool and refreshing…which is nice on a hot summer day. thanks!

This is amazing. I have been using it for three weeks, in the powdered form. I use an old kabuki brush from a mineral makeup kit, and it goes on so nicely. I went to Florida, where lots of walks on hot, hot days didn’t cause it to fail. I was buying so much deodorant! I think I have about 4-5 tubes here, and when the so-called “big-guns” deodorants were starting to fail me after 4 hours, I knew something had to change. This is great. I even sprinkle into my sneakers to try to ward off the funk. You have provided a great service to humanity in teaching me about this. 🙂

Something people might want to take into consideration about using cornstarch. I tried using a mineral based makeup a few years ago that used cornstarch as a base instead of talc. It sounded like a great idea. After using it for a week, my face developed all of these tiny little bumps. Turns out that when cornstarch gets in your pores it becomes breeding ground for bacteria. Talc does not have this same issue since it is a mineral, not a grain. Obviously this isn’t an issue for everyone, since many people use the same mineral makeup with no problem. However, it is something to be aware of. I assume that the same principle would apply to the pores in you underarms. Just something to take into consideration. Not trying to discourange anyone 🙂

If you are hoping to use something other than tea tree oil or lavender, I would suggest Niaouli or Eucalyptus. I wouldn’t suggest clove, cinnamon or any of the other stronger antibacterial essential oils because they aren’t meant to be put on directly the skin. However, if you are really excited about clove, you might be able to get away with using just a few drops. Clove is known to be numbing on tougher skin, that’s why it’s great to use for toothaches (single drop applied directly to the problem area, avoiding at all costs getting any on the lips) but can sting and burn on sensitive skin.

JP : Coconut oil can be found at any health food store across Canada, and most of the other body butter can be found there as well. Some Safeways, Overwaiteas, etc carry coconut oil as well.

I will give this a try for sure. It’s freaking how much abuse we submit our skins to with the chemical products. The natural at home is the way to go, much more unexpensive and efficient if done right. Natural deodorant will be my next cooking! 😉

i make your deodorant tonight and it looks like it will work but the only problem i have is that when i stick it into an old deodorant case i cant get it to come up…so i dont know how to get it out to actually use it. any suggestions? 🙂

I just wanted to say thank you for posting such a wonderful and EASY deodorant ‘recipe’! This stuff is awesome! My husband said that the stuff I use to buy at the store hurt him. So I decided to try your DO and I’m soooo glad I did! He LOVES it! Better than anything I’ve ever bought for him! He doesn’t like the scent of the tea tree oil so I chose geranium oil- it has a more robust scent, and also has astringent and antiseptic properties. As for myself, I had been using the Clinical strength DO from the store and decided to make some homemade for myself- to see if it was really as good as my hubby said. I made a batch with orange oil and it was okay for a few days, but it began to burn and sting a bit. So I created a new batch with less baking soda and used lavender oil instead and it works wonderfully. Guess I’m more sensitive- so lessening the baking soda is a good idea. To find different essential oils that could be used in DO, I did an internet search. Scents are pretty limited, but I figure even unscented would be good- especially if you wear perfume/body spray. Thanks again for your awesome site!

Awesome idea – will definitely give it a go. Just wondering how folks have gone with clothing stains/white marks etc. I have trouble getting conventional deoderants out of the pits of my shirts and after a while they end up in the ‘clothes to redo’ pile.
Keep up the awesome work! 🙂

Thanks so much for posting this! I saw this via the recycle your day blog and came up with a recipe slightly between both of yours which is working out really well (it was also what I happened to have in the house!)

I used: cocoa butter, shea butter, bicarb of soda, cornflour and tea tree / tea tree lemon. It works a treat! I’ve blogged about it with the recipe, so if anyone wants to take a closer look, go on ahead!

I have tried so many natural deodorant and none of them have ever worked. The crystal stick worked for a bit but then stopped being so effective so I went back to aluminum deodorants. Anyway, I don’t like the idea of all those chemicals so I decided to try this and I am totally impressed! I’ve been using it for a month and I’ve never noticed it wearing off throughout the day. I changed the recipe a bit (added shea butter and used eucalyptus and clary sage oil). Thanks for posting!

I think that I’d like to try this recipe, but one question:
Doesn’t using coconut oil cause you to get oil stains on the underarms of your garments? Even if it’s solid at room temp, it’s still oil, right? does it get de-natured or something by adding it to the baking soda/corn starch mixture? I like using the totally natural products, but don’t want oily stains.
I’ll be checking with you!

I’ve tried this deodorant and I confirm: it works well as far as smell is concerned but unfortunately it does leave stains on shirts. I’ve tried hard to get rid of those stains, but unfortunately the marks are still there.

mina–Maybe make it much stiffer. I’ve never had a stain issue. Wait, what color are the stains…white or oil? I was advising you if it was oil. If it’s the right consistency and applied lighty…it’s invisible.

My husband has been using this for about 2 months and I think it works better than his old deodorant. He goes to the gym during the day and trusts this enough to use it. He doesn’t have any kind of BO at all by the end of the day, where he used to have just a little. As soon as mine is gone, I’ll be making a lavender version for myself. Another successful product, with no yucky chemicals in it! And CHEAP!

This looks like a good recipe- I use Tom’s of Maine, but when it runs out I believe I will be trying this.
I HATE having even slightly damp under-arms, but here is something that works: apply a light layer of stick deodorant, then a layer of powder deodorant with a good powder puff. Cornstarch and baking soda works extremely well for this. Using the puff, lightly dust off all the loose powder, so only the part that adheres to the stick deodorant remains. You can refresh the powder throughout the day if you’re wearing a shirt with tight underarms or doing something really strenuous.

Doesn’t using coconut oil cause you to get oil stains on the underarms of your garments? Even if it’s solid at room temp, it’s still oil, right? does it get de-natured or something by adding it to the baking soda/corn starch mixture? I like using the totally natural products, but don’t want oily stains.

i stumbled across this tutorial a few months back and was really interested to try it–but at the time i had just happened across a brand of organic deodorant that found its way into a dollar store, and i stocked up! well, i finally used up the last of that stuff last week, and i eagerly followed your directions. it worked out great! i used patchouli instead of the tea tree, as i am that kind of hippie. i also melted the coconut oil in the microwave first, and then added the essential oil to it, before stirring it in with the mixed ingredients. when i put everything together it resembled the consistency of a powdered sugar glaze–so i poured it into my empty deodorant container and then stuck the thing in the fridge. it solidified great, and i’ve been using it happily for a few days now. 🙂 i know i’m a new user, but i haven’t had any stains and don’t really see that happening–you really don’t need much of this stuff for it to work.

I’ve tried this deodorant and I confirm: it works well as far as smell is concerned but unfortunately it does leave stains on shirts. I’ve tried hard to get rid of those stains, but unfortunately the marks are still there.

Thank you soooo much for your post. I just made mine today. I’ve been wanting too but prefer sticks and most have powdered versions. I actually made mine with mango butter. I really like the consistency – right between shea and cocoa. It turned out awesome!!! Not oily at all! I was even a little generous with it. After a couple of minutes, it feels powdery actually. Butter soaked right in leaving powders on the skin.

Back in the 50’s (or so I’ve been told), some deodorants came in jars, and you spread the cream over your armpits. I imagine you could use this deodorant the same way, if you don’t have an empty stick deo container. If you use a bit too much, rub it on your feet so they don’t smell, and you’ll also have soft feet!!

I just started using this two days ago and so far I don’t smell! This stuff is awesome and I will be making my deodorant from now on. Thanks!
By the way, baking soda doesn’t have aluminum in it. Baking powder does. Companies just use the confusion between baking soda and baking powder to market baking soda as “aluminum-free” so they can charge more for it.

I have been sprinkling powder under my arms for some time now (bicarbonate of soda mixed with cornflour ((Australian names for baking soda and cornstarch)) and a little zinc powder) but I just could not convince my 14 yr old daughter to give it a go. I have managed to graduate her onto stick deodorant rather than spray…so this looks like a recipe that might actually work!! Thank you very much.

Is there a way to substitute EVOO as the liquid agent and crushed lavender instead of lavender oil? If it is possible, would you still need the coconut oil? This recipe looks like a terrific substitute for the store-bought ones that sometimes do contain ingredients that are irritating to susceptible persons.

This article is great. Fiancee uses baby powder right now because he can’t stand regular deodorants. It works some but still ends up stinky at end of the day.

I’m going to see if this works for him. He likes tea tree oil scent so hopefully it will. As for applying the powder easily- get a cheap fine weave sock and fill it up. Swing sock on area to be powdered and some will poof out. It’s the same as the chalk bag rock climbers use to keep their hands dry.

I have been using this deodorant recipe for about a year now, and it’s awesome. Thank you so much for posting this.

I have substituted cedar essential oil for the tea tree, and it still works great. Also, I use extra virgin coconut oil since it has not been refined, bleached or deodorized. It adds a great smell to the deodorant. I store my deodorant in the fridge so it stays nice and hard.

None of the natural, health-food store type deodorants ever worked for me. I would stink after about two hours. This recipe works wonders!

Hurray, can’t wait to try this. For some reason, this year I have started to try to go sustainable?? I’ve been canning, freezing, making lavender cold processed bar soap, dishwasher detergent, and last but not least…laundry detergent. It has all been very successful, and I am having a blast doing it. I feel like as though I am doing something good for my family as well.
So now its onward an upward to replace my Smooth Powder, flawless touch Secret with Olay, ha.

Hi, mind if i chime in on the olive oil question? I made this deodorant as a powder the same week it was posted. After about a week of constantly vacuuming the bathroom, (it got everywhere when i used a powder puff,) I decided it was time to try it as a stick deodorant. Of course, wouldn’t you know, my local market had just recently stopped carrying coconut oil. So I decided instead of the coconut oil I would try two different alternatives, first, coco butter (pure , I had to shave and melt it a bit), and second, ev olive oil. I was very light handed with both, just enough to hold the powders together. The olive oil batch took about two weeks to set up decent. I actually just made my third batch with the oil. I stopped looking for coconut oil ages ago so I never did try that. Just thought my experience would help someone.

My husband’s underarms look like he cooked them with a blow torch!
We think it’s his deoderant. He’s going to try the home made stuff from this site.
FYI – be careful with the tea tree oil – I found out the hard way that my skin can’t tolerate that. Thanks for your comments!

This sounds awesome, I really need to try this!
I just found out, however, the other day, that apparently my boyfriend doesn’t use deodorant. Ever. We’ve been together for 2 1/2 years, and he never stinks… is that weird?

The suggestion that baking SODA might contain aluminum is completely wrong.
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate – NaHCO3.
Now, baking POWDER may contain sodium aluminum sulfate – NaAl(SO4)2.
But baking powder and baking soda are two different things.
Stick to the recipe, use the SODA.
Don’t confuse baking soda with baking powder, and no aluminum will be involved in the making of this deodorant.

really great suggestion for making your own deodorant. Helps to keep costs down in the long run, and most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen cabinet. As soon as me and my wife saw this post, we got the rest of the ingredients that we didnt have and got to work the next day! Now, my question is, is the mixture supposed to liquefy after mixing it and putting it in the deodorant holder, or is it supposed to stay dry? Waiting for your feedback!

As per the comment on 9 July, baking powder has aluminum. Baking soda is just bicarbonate of soda, thus it has none.

I made this up and I love it! This is the first time in 35 years that my underarms have been truly happy and irritation free. I used Queen Helene’s Cocoa Butter – a solid stick of cocoa butter. It sure gives the deodorant a nice smell.

To the people who are saying that baking soda doesn’t contain aluminum – I understand that the compound sodium bicarbonate itself doesn’t contain aluminum, but couldn’t it have been contaminated during processing?

Anyway, this recipe sounds awesome! I added lemon essential oil, and it smells so good I almost want to eat it (but not quite 🙂 ). Also, all essential oils are antiseptic, so any scent should have the same effect.

Finally tried this (was waiting to finish my normal stuff so I would have something to put it in). WOW. No smell. No sweat. I don’t need a lot of deodorant as I eat really healthily and don’t run marathons regularly, but this does the trick.
Thank you soooooo much! I’m now almost to the point where nothing horrible (or unidentified) is going on/in my body. Thank you!

I’m SO happy I found your website. I’m a very slightly experienced soapmaker..but I LOVE the simplicity of your recipes! I can’t wait to start making my own soap/lotion bar/deodorants!
I was wondering though, is it possible to make several different scented deordorants, like you can buy off the shelf?

Hi,
I’d love to try the stick deodorant, I have a question before I begin. If I use either tea tree oil or lavender oil, they are both liquid form. . . why do I need to add in the “solid-at-room-temperature” coconut oil? Do you mean the essential oil doesn’t make this turn solid and that I need to use the coconut oil to “set” it? If I have to use something to set it, I might try the solid coco butter. Thank you.

This recipe is fantastic!!! It has been 4 days and I don’t stink, and I am never going back. I used the sensitive skin version with more cornstarch than baking soda and about 15 drops of tea tree. Sooo happy I found this. Thank you, Thank you!

I used this for 2 days and have a painful rash on my armpits. (I have this problem with many brands of deodorant, not sure why…) I’m going to try again with the sensitive version and a different essential oil… Not giving up yet!

Does this also work as an anti-perspirant? the fact that I get ugly sweat stains whenever I don’t use a “clinical strength” anti-perspirant is, unfortunately, the only reason I use them (and some of them don’t even work!!)…

I’m hoping it’s not to do with how I eat, because it’s virtually impossible to do that right now due to my living in a dorm where we’re allowed absolutely no cooking apliances except for a kettle. Once I have my kitchen next year, I hope to be able to not only eat better, but to make many of things on this site..

I have tried the natural deodorants found in the natural food stores and they didn’t work as effectively as this mix. I would have to reapply throughout the day, especially in the summer. The store bought brands didn’t work either. I LOVE this stuff! I didn’t use enough coconut oil so I’m going to adjust the recipe but it is fantastic! I cannot wait to try some of your other recipes. Thank you so much for sharing. I love your website!

I have been making my own Olive Oil soap for about 12 years now (& selling it at the local Farmer’s market). I use it on my body, as a shampoo and to shave with. When I found out about aluminium in deodorants, I started using a commercial one with baking soda, but it is quite expensive. So….after using Google, I now know how to make my own eco-friendly (and user-friendly) deodorant! My next challenge is get my teenage kids to try it too!

I have used this for months, it was the best I have ever used. But for some reason the last few weeks I have been reacting to it. It burns my arms for hours. I had to stop useing it. Am I doing something wrong? does anyone knoy why it would start doing that all of a sudden?

Like James, I made this and used it – and LOVED it – for about a month and a half. At which point my underarms started to burn and turned very, very red. I stopped using the deodorant immediately, and after 3-4 nights of using neosporin under my arms, they are finally starting to heal. My guess is that it is either the baking soda or the tea tree oil (I used tea tree and lavender, but not excessive amounts). I also substituted arrowroot starch for the cornstarch. I’m debating now whether or not to modify the recipe or look for a different one altogether 🙁

To the poster who liked the idea of clove oil – be very careful with that, if you decide to do it! Clove (along with cinnamon, eucalyptus, and some others – easy to find which on google) are VERY irritating to skin, even diluted. Also, part of the reason that the tea tree oil works so well is that it is antifungal and antibacterial. It helps kill the stuff that makes you stink 😛

Like Jen we had the same issue with this recipe also. I then found another one that was the same except for the ADDITION of vit. e oil. Since I have been making it with that we have had no issues in the past few years. (I do use the tea tree oil and lavender too.)

Glad to see that I am not the only one! Satchell, how much vit. e oil do I need to use? Also, where do I get it? Jen, I did not know about tea tree oil as an anti bacterial/ antifungal. Good to know! Thanks so much for the responses!

in reply to keith pittman’s comment about aluminum in baking soda.
i believe you’re thinking of baking powder, which usually has aluminum added.
this is different from baking soda, which is a natural ingredient from the earth.

Love this stuff. I use the extra sensitive version (6T cornstarch, 2T baking soda) w/20 drops TT oil. My husband has had the most eye-watering odor, no matter what brand of deodorant he uses. In addition, he’s had a yeast infection on his underarms since last summer. I’ve had him on this since Sept, and no longer does he have sweat stains on his clothing, he doesn’t emit any odor, and the yeast infection is clearing up.

I was wondering about something. I am making this deodorant for the first time and I know that if Coconut oil is left out when its hot that it will turn to liquid form… If it does can you add Emulsifying wax to it to keep it hardened… I know that when I homemade my lotions and lip balms They become super runny if I don’t add E-wax. Would it be okay to use this?

I finally made this 🙂 I have always had problems with irritation under my arms with regular store bought deoderants and having the all natural ones not work (controlling odor). This is the best stuff ever!!! I will never use anything else and I am not stinky anymore. I do keep mine in the fridge because it does get a little softer if its room temperature and can break apart. It is the best ever!! Thanks!

I have been using a similar recipe for about a year or two now, but I use the oil and powder separately. I apply the oil, then the powder. I tried just the powder first, but it seemed to help when I added coconut oil. I store the oil in a water-tight glass container, and the powder in another container with a puff applicator. This way, I can take them camping in the summer, and I don’t have to worry about the coconut oil melting all over the place. Am now considering making a stick to keep in the fridge as well though =)

Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is supposedly antibacterial. This is why it helps with odor. (Body odor is caused by bacteria that feeds off of sweat.) Plus, it helps the powder stick to skin. I don’t know how antibacterial olive oil is, but it does have an scent that I personally wouldn’t want to smell like. If someone is just looking for an oil in general, safflower oil is fairly odorless. However, like olive oil it doesn’t harden at room temperature. I don’t think either one would work well for the stick design.

if you like/ don’t mind the licorice scent, anise is an AMAZING deodorizer. you don’t even need much of it just maybe 5-10 drops to get the effect, and it can be mixed with other oils. I am Very allergic to chemical fragrances and am really hoping i can get my husband to use this stuff. Personally i use nothing or a fragrance free cotton deo from trader joes, but will try this too 🙂

spring, its nice to know that despite being allergic to fragrance, the oils aren’t an issue. I’m not allergic in the clinical sense, but extremely irritated and sensitive to fragrances–perfume, deodorant, candles, etc. It all smells pure and simple like chemicals, not the respectable flowers or foods. I found this strange, because I was raised by my grandmother, who used oils and potpourri to scent the house, yet I’m not at all affected by them. They smell pleasant (or at least not like chemicals).

I was wondering (to all whom may answer), how I could create a deodorant for heavy-sweaters. My fiance uses anti-perspirants, which of course contain Al, but I’d love to find something that’s better for him.

I made this deodorant for myself a few weeks ago and I love love love it!! Since being pregnant 5 years ago I have not been able to find a deodorant that works for more then 2hrs (something with hormone change or something made my pits unbearable). Anyway, I made it with the tea tree oil and couldn’t be happier/ It works so well for me that I apply it in the morning and usually the morning of the next day I still smell fresh. Thanks so much for the tip!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this deodorant and I used Lavendar Oil instead of Tea Tree because the Tea Tree is too harsh for me. Me and my daughter have been using it for about 5 weeks. I no longer get painful knots under my arms and it lasts through my workouts everyday. It is a DEODORANT, NOT AN ANTI-Perspirant, however, the sweating that I do during my workouts is quickly dried and I am guessing because of the cornstarch. I also use it on other parts of my body that sweat too! I can have VERY angry underarms however, I do not stink not one bit! We had a few hot weather days and I used it and walked about 3 miles…no odor! I am buying some tins this weekend to make a couple of batches for some friends and family. Oh…another benefit is that it is totally invisible but you still have to be careful putting on your pull over shirts as you do with regular deodorants. Love it!!

I made this deodorant a little over a week ago, and have been loving it! My underarms don’t feel as “suffocated” as they used to. And, now I smell like ME, instead of being so overly perfumed from the commercial deodorant. So far so good, and no stinky!
I made this in my food processor to save time & energy, but that made it really hard to adequately judge the consistency. I ended up with too much coconut oil. It still works well, but the problem is that I’m getting oily pit marks left after the closthes are washed. I just discovered it in a load of laundry last night, so I’m working on a plan to eliminate this problem. Any ideas?

I made deodorant like this a month or so ago, and it works really well. I just used baking soda, cornstarch and coconut oil, though (no scented oils), and it works fine. The coconut oil’s antibacterial/antifungal property is all I seem to need. I messed up the ratio of ingredients, though, so I have to keep it in my refrigerator. No biggie.

Ashley–You could try the dry version, or experiment with other solid-at-room-temperature oils such as shea butter. I’ve never tried it myself so I can’t give you firsthand experience, but I would say see what works for you.

This is amazing! Not only has eliminated my intensely itchy sores (I’m suddenly allergic to aluminum, apparently) but it is the best antiperspirant/deodorant I’ve ever used. I stay dry and have no odor at all – and this after a lifetime of being self-conscious and scrubbing myself practically raw trying to eliminate all traces of odor. I use the dry version, and rub it in with a compact powderpuff. Excellent!

I’ve been making this for myself for over a year now. The first time I used the coconut oil as suggested, but since my house is unevenly heated and cooled, it had a problem with being solid one day and practically liquid the next. The next time I made it, I made it with olive oil, adding a tbsp at a time and using a mortar and pestle to get good consistency. I add geranium oil with my tea tree oil, and it smells yummy. This time I might use almond oil instead of olive oil, for the scent, but honestly I couldn’t detect an olive scent at all.

I am using just baking soda powder,it works great. Please, be aware that most commercially made baking sodas contain aluminum .I found that Whole Foods in Vancouver,BC carry baking soda that does not have any aluminum.

I’ve used the dry version (baking soda and cornstarch), and found it too messy, and I needed to reapply several times during the day. During one period of testing, I had to discontinue using it, because my underarms starting looking odd. Upon reading another person’s “recipe” I found out that cornstarch can encourage fungal growth, and an alternative recipe could be baking soda, arrowroot powder, scented oil, and coconut oil.

I made this about half a year ago, and it’s worked ok. Lately it hasn’t been working so well, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s also developed a rather rubbery, gooey consistency that isn’t the most pleasant and doesn’t go on well. I’m not sure what the cause for this is, since it’s still cold where I live and the article said it should last for a long time. Also, when I wear certain shirts, I’ve found that my armpits end up smelling like…Thai food. I mean, I love Thai food, but it’s a little weird coming from my armpits. Any suggestions?

(this time I didn’t use any EO; I think I will next time- also, is it possible to use alcohol-based peppermint extract instead of EO?)

My friend posted this on her facebook and I was immediately intrigued (especially after paying 5€ for a stick of Rexona Maximum). I only have a question about the oil. Wouldn’t it leave stains on the clothes? I’ve had problems with deodorant remainders that make the arm pits of my shirts kind of hard and ugly, does that happen with this stick, too?

Just wanted to say that this is the most incredible deodorant! It works–no matter how hot the day is or how much I work out. I’m always going on about it to the rest of my family. Perhaps one day they’ll be converted….. 😉

Hi. I’ve started using a paste of baking SODA mixed with water and while it works great—-even though I still sweat (it’s natural, right?!) there’s no smell at all—it can be a bit messy to apply and I end up with white clumps on my counter and/or floor.

A few questions about the solid recipe. I like the idea of making a solid but doesn’t coconut oil have a strong fragrance? Mine does. And does it absorb into the skin like a lotion or leave oil stains on your clothes? Is there a good recipe for making an odorless solid deodorant?

For those who do not like the corn starch/ baking soda thing or for heavy sweating people Zinc Oxide is a good replacement. It disinfects the bacteria, which is what causes the odors. It also works great as an anti-perspirant and is much better for the skin than AL.

I just made this two-three days ago and thus far I am THRILLED! “Normal” deodorant tends to leave some kind of weird gunky buildup all over my shirts. After several attempts to remove it and being horribly frustrated, I considered what that gunk is doing to my armpits in addition to my shirts… and decided to go natural. I bought some Tom’s of Maine, it ignited the fires of hell under my arms AND left me stanky after my rather physical job. Since I am on a budget (read: incarcerated husband + cheap to begin with) I googled homemade deodorant. No more hellfire in my pits, no more stanky underarms, hopefully no more ruined shirts. I’m a believer.

I just made this and I think I’m going to love it! I have an idea to keep transferring it into a tube from being so messy. Mix all the ingredients well in a closed ziplock sandwich bag. The mixing will melt/soften the coconut oil enough for the next step. Cut about 1/4 in corner off the ziplock bag, and squeeze the contents into the tube. Allow to harden before using. No mess!

I just made my first batch. Found it ridiculously hard to mix…until I put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then it became a snap! I played with the proportions a little until I had a thick icing consistency while warm. I then used an empty gel deodorant applicator that has the square holes on top (it was a Gillette product, if you must know) because it’s bottom is pretty easy to pry off once you screw the push-plate down to the bottom. I put packing tape over the square holes and put the lid back on to close that end. Then it was easy to pour the ‘icing’ into the applicator, stopping at the line that marks the bottom point of the push-plate. I’m chilling it down in the fridge now, along with the extra, which can go nicely into a ziplock until I’m ready to refill the applicator. I look forward to having pits that smell like my do after whipping up a batch of this stuff.
Note to other manly-men on scents: if you can go to an herb shop or natural foods store that carries pure essences, you’ll find a lot of things to choose from. Patchouli is one that has a musky, manly aroma, but because it’s strong, be sure to start with small amounts. You can always add more. A strong case can be made for not adding a scent, since the coconut oil has an aroma that is pleasant without being particularly gender-linked (coconut oil is in a lot of sun tan lotions, so everyone smells like it at the beach.) Remember though that tea tree oil has no real gender link and it does have a strong anti-bacterial effect that makes your batch more effective, which is why it is a good choice. Ask your herbalist (or look it up on the internet) to learn which other essences have anti-bacterial effect, and try to work from those. I can’t help wondering whether your favorite cologne might work, but it adds alcohol to the mix, isn’t as strong as an essence and isn’t likely to add an anti-bacterial element to the recipe.

OMgosh, thank you sooooo much, I love this, I have had recent health issues and even before that had sensitivity issues with deodorant. This is wonderful! I love the tea tree oil in it, if someone doesn’t like that scent, try lavender oil. This makes my day! Now I’m trying to get my whole family to use it! Thanks a million!!

if i added a little beeswax would it make it a bit more solid? and as for essential oils, i only have tangerine, spearmint, lime, eucalyptus, and geranium, and i dont know how effective those might be in homemade deodorant…

Brooke–We’ve never tried adding beeswax, so we can’t vouch for the texture or spreadability if you did, but it’s worth experimenting with. Some citrus oils can cause skin irritation, so proceed with caution there, but most essential oils have benefits beyond smelling great, so, again, experiment and find what works for you. Good luck!

Hi,
I followed this recipe and made the deodorant…but the end result wasn’t as expected. The texture wasn’t smooth n creamy (altho’ it looks very smooth). After applying it, it has some “grainy” feel..should be the residue of baking soda.
Is this how it should be? If not, what could have went wrong… ? Pls help…

I am so happy to have found out about this.. The interment is an amazing thing.. Good people like you with good ideas have always been around but now we have this new amazing way to share.. And I am so grateful Dear One that you are who you are and did indeed share!
I consider this discovery to be nothing short of a small miracle .. Love love it

For the few people above that asked on a replacement for cornstarch or too much coconut oil, as long as you can use tea tree oil, just dab some on with a cotton ball. No need for the other ingredients, and it works just as well and as long. But this is a very simplified recipe for deodorant and I am not trying to take away from that. Just giving another idea.

Thanks for the BS to CS ration adjustment. I did equal parts for a while and it eventually started to wear on my skin. I had to switch back to regular deodorant and I hated after making the switch. The deodorants was SO perfume-y and I was stinky again within a couple of hours. I think I will try more CS to BS and let you know 🙂

Haha I was on stumbleupon searching for food recipes and this is where they brought me to. I probably won’t be making this for dinner anytime soon, but once I finish my current deodorant, I should definitely give this a try.

Tomato lady, I’ve seen that a lot of natural deodorants contain sodium choloride (table salt) as an ingredient. I know that salt has been traditionally used in foods to dehydrate bacteria. Since bacteria is too blame for underarm odor (not sweat, contrary to popular belief) I think it would make sense to add salt to this recipe, to boost the deodorant power. What are your thoughts on this? Any ideas on how much salt to use? Standard table salt vs. sea salt? Salt with iodine vs. salt without iodine?

I would just like to throw some caution to the wind for anyone that might be as uneducated as myself in the essential oils department. Don’t use peppermint oil in this recipe. It might be ok for someone without sensitive skin but it caused almost a chemical burn. Very uncomfortable. It could have been that I used too much maybe, but either way use caution if you do. I love the smell of lavender and mint so I used that for mine and after a few days (and after shaving) I was in pain which continued even with the plain coconut oil. I will have to clear this up and start over and make sure the peppermint oil is in fact the culprit but my assumption is that either I used too much or it just isn’t good for the delicate underarm area (for me) and in case there is anyone else who is new to all the MYO recipes I wanted to share my experience. Thanks for the recipe. I always had an issue were I felt like I would start to smell after a few hours and I am the kind of person that just sweats in the underarms even if it is freezing out. With this I felt like my sweat wasn’t as much and if there was any smell at all it was very faint and didn’t come unless under extreme exercise. For anyone that has issues with the stains, try the magic of dawn dish soap dilluted as a pre wash spray.

I picked up the ingredients this last week and made some today. The coconut oil that I bought was very hard and impossible to mix, so I added a bit of crisco to it. I mixed up enough to make 2 sticks and used a magic bullet mixer to mix it with. It came out cosmetics grade, very smooth, will have to see how it sets. The ingredients are not cheap, but hopefully its better for you

I’ve just made it, melting the 2T coconut oil; and adding about 3 drops castor oil like I read somewhere, if not here. The scent is “heavenly” with about 10 drops tea tree, 3-5 of rosemary; and a couple of generous dabs of laubdanum (which is not an opiate but is a scent gathered from a rock rose, with leather strapping — I know that sounds weird but that’s what the expert told me and I believe it). Very earthy without being overpowering. I also added a scant quarter teaspoon of rosewater, but honestly I think it didn’t make a difference. As recommended I used 1/4 c. of baking soda and cornstarch. I had no beeswax at hand, as recommended on similar sites.

For applicator, I used an empty gel deodorant container: very like a stick deodorant container, but with a little cover with 3 slots on top; plus a lid. So if it is a little soft, that won’t be a problem. BTW, these amounts filled the deodorant container perfectly. More would have been more than the container would have wanted to hold.

I’ll update after a few days of use. I have been using “only” baking soda which worked very well for close to a year; but now I am starting to feel that by the end of the day I have a “yeasty” scent, and so need to take it to a new level. I’d feel like that is TMI in any other context but this… For several months, the baking soda alone simply worked wonderfully to reduced “all” odors.

O and BTW, if the coconut allergy is when said husband”eats” coconut, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will cause problems on skin. I also have an allergy to coconut oil, but not for external applications. OF COURSE if a rash appears, that is totally different. Different allergies have different manifestations. Over time, my story may be different. We’ll see. I don’t have trouble with soap made with coconut oil, but of course in soap, the fat has been largely saponified.

Excellent recipe and I’ll be the coconut oil has a pleasant subtle scent. Another factor in body odor is what you eat, especially things that your body don’t process well, or things that you as an individual have an intolerance for (wheat, milk, nuts, etc.). Do a little research and see if there are things you should, or wouldn’t mind, cutting or limiting in your diet.

I made this and used it for about a week. I loved it. It worked great, however, after a few days I broke out with a burning, itchy rash all over my underarms. I would love to make this work. I have heard before of this happening to others. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I have made a few different batches first i tried 1tbsp cornstarch, 1tbsp BS and 3 tbsp coconut oil i then added tea tree and bergamot oils. It worked great (no odour!) then on day 3 my underarms were a little raw so i decided to make two different batches to try next, So i tried equal amounts of BS and arrowroot powder with 1 tsp of clay and tea tree and lemongrass scent. It worked great for 1/2 days but was very gritty which my other mixture was not, but the odour now returns half way through the day. my other mix was 1tbsp bs, 2 tbsp arrowroot and 3tbsp coconut with tea tree, lemongrass and bergamot and yet none of these are working for me i still have odour which i’m not sure if i’m going through detox from antiperspirant or what? I’ve been trying the method for two weeks now and i’m getting embarrassed that the odour returns midway through the day that i’m sure my work colleuges must be put off by it. I’ve tried reapplying and it doesn’t make any difference although the odour is not as strong as it was before but it’s still there and it does ruin the day for me 🙁

I just dont know if i should try another recipe or just give up on this natural deodrant? I’m also not sure if i need to just use tea tree and not the other oils because my underarms seem darker with the newer mixtures with more oils and that’s another problem i’m facing too. I hope someone could maybe guide me a little as i want to stick with this deodorant so much!!

EpicLemon–If you have a favorite “solid at room temperature oil” use that. If you are still having trouble, you may need to order the coconut oil online if you can’t find it at Walmart or a local international, Asian, or middle eastern grocery. Good luck!

I have used this recipe, but I got it from another site. Exactly the same though. I added a few drops of lavender oil in addition to the tea tree oil. I love it, even though my pits are going through detox. I have had some bumps since starting the homemade deodorant, which is frustrating because I really do like it a lot. Plus I love that I am not putting aluminum on my body that is clogging my pores and who knows what ever else. Any suggestions for the bumps?

I was wondering if I could substitute the tea tree oil with green tea oil? I know green tea oil is supposed to be good for the skin….I use it in my homemade bath salts and liquid hand soap. but wonder if it would be effective in a deodorant.

@Karen February 26, 2012, I think the rash may mean your allergic to Tea tree oil or hopefully its just from too much baking soda. I haven’t had the problem so far. Maybe descreasing the baking soda will work for you. Also if you accidentally use too many drops of an essential oil it can irritate your skin even if you are not allergic to it.

Where is the whole recipe. I see some ingredients in your step by step instructions but then at the end it says to increase amount of cornstarch if you have sensitive skin. I didn’t see where you added cornstarch. I can’t wait to make this. Oh reading other comments I wanted to add that you can find coconut oil very reasonably at Trader Joes.

I have used this recipe for several years and highly recommend it. I make it with less baking soda and more cornstarch because, for me, it caused a slight rash with the original measurements. The first time I made it I used almond oil instead of coconut oil and that worked too, although it wouldn’t work as a deodorant. I haven’t ever used tea tree oil–I use lavender oil. At first, I found that I sweated more and I worried about smelling. Now I sweat but it never smells, even in the summertime. I figure that we sweat for a reason and I probably shouldn’t interfere with that. I don’t use it as a stick–I have an old makeup container that I fill and after a shower I dip my fingers in and smear it on. I haven’t ever had it stain my clothes.

Amanda D: I’m sure it was the peppermint essential oil. The reason it feels cool is that it’s actually an irritant. You might try one, let me repeat that one, drop in the whole mix. Even one drop of peppermint essential oil in 16 ounces of water is far too much to drink. I like a drop or two in a very large spray bottle of water for a cooling spray.

I should note that I am referring to essential oil, which is much stronger, than say a flavoring or aroma oil is.

FYI: Clove oil is wonderful for this, but again, one or maybe drops max. Usually with that, you’ll feel a slight, pleasant warming sensation instead of the cooling one of peppermint. Wearing clove oil also makes you look thinner to others. (No idea how that works.) Clove oil is also antimicrobial, so it helps eliminate the bacterium that cause the smell in the first place.

Hi Ladies. Word of Caution. I use Essential oils all the time, and have had 30 years experience, however there are certain things you need to be aware of. Tea Tree oil is proven in cases of breast cancer. Better safe than sorry not to use it. Rosemary is an absolute no-no for high blood pressure. (in case you ever want to use that) Please read up on oils before adding them to homemade items…….Also Baking soda still absorbs into the skin (that is a LOT of sodium). Yes it is all better than anti p. But still, please read up on essential oils and their uses and especially cautions.

I’ve used this for a couple of weeks and it seemed good at first but now am I a bit stinky by the evening. Also my pits tend to burn when using this right after shaving. And my pits itch almost all the time now. Does anyone know if arrowroot powder works better than cornstarch? I have not used any essential oil in mine. I only used the 3 main ingredients to start with. Possibly I could try to make again and cut back on the bs and increase the cornstarch, I am just worried that will increase the stinkiness even more. Has anyone tried the salt crystal deoderant? A friend of mine uses it and says she is not smelly but summer hasn’t hit yet, so unsure how well it will work then.

If I may be so bold to offer a different solution….
Your sweat will not stink if you are optimally hydrated. Drink more water! You will still sweat, but you won’t smell. Deodorants only take care of the smell of sweat. You need an anti-perspirant (aka those aluminum containing commercial products) for those times when you need to be dry.

I’m so excited! I’m trying to wean my family off of chemicals and this was my last venture. I didn’t think I would find anything on homemade deodorant and thought I would have to be a prisoner to the store bought. I’m gonna get on it today! yay!
Thank you

I have used the salt crystal deodorant. “Tom’s” makes a liquid roll-on salt crystal deodorant that I have switched to. I have been using the liquid for years and am happy to report great success. It comes in patchouli, lavender, and plain. I get it a Whole Food Market.

I’ve got a few bottles of oils around (including tea tree), and recently found a blend that I like, so I think my next project will be making this along with some lavender, orange, and (maybe) ylang ylang oil.

Correction to the brand of Liquid Rock deodorant. It is made by “Kiss My Face”.
It is paraben free, no aluminum, no propylene gylcol and gluten free. A little pricy, $5.99 for 3oz. It has worked for me for appx. 7 years, I stay dry and no odor.

I have not. I have tried shortening, though. It’s more solid. I’m sure a bit of beeswax would help the solidity, but you’d have to melt it, blend it with the other fat, let it set up, and THEN put in the soda and cornstarch.

You could just mix the BS and CS with water and a smidge of borax (anto bacterial/fungal) agent and put it in a roll on bottle to avoid using any oils. those two ingredients work awesome to totally kill any odors. I personally don’t like adding all of those essential oils as fragrance. It’s a little too much for me and the BS and CS work just fine without theeir help. Save the money and add it to your soaps!

I have tried different methods and I use arrowroot instead of cornstarch (ratio 6 to 2 baking soda). It is not irritating this way. I also use extra virgin coconut oil (super smell) with a tiny bit of illipe butter (has a higher melting point so your stick stays firm even if you live in the South like me!!) I use lemon essential oil (antibacterial-antifungal). I don’t like borax on my skin and would not use shortening as it is hydrogenated oil (I like to stay all natural)

DO NOT USE TEA TREE OIL IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. It is proven to alter hormone levels and is not safe to use if you already have a hormone-sensitive cancer, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. It has also been linked to breast cancer. Each of the essential oils have positive and negative effects on the body. Look into each to decide which one will work best for you. A little can go a long way.

Go to the Asian market, and buy a bag of Alum. It’ll be about $1.00 and there will be 10-16 oz of rock alum. Get a piece wet, and rub it on your skin. It’s like the crystal deodorant.
Cornstarch also feeds yeast. If you are prone to yeasty skin, infections, or such, the cornstarch will help you grow a quick little colony of the stinky, itchy, little critters.
A mixture of 50% vinegar (in water) spritzed onto the irritated area is a quick sting away from a cheap lab test. *
*Verify wit a doctor. (disclaimer)

If you are trying to get away from the harmful effects of aluminum, then I’d stay away from alum (which although isn’t the same compound used in deodorants is still a metallic compound that can be absorbed through the skin). If you are worried about the cornstarch, arrowroot powder is a great alternative.

Does yours twist up like regular deodorant? I just made mine today and it doesn’t twist up. I melted my coconut oil with beeswax to make it sturdier but it seems pretty gooey still. Will a few days in the fridge correct this, you think? THX!

My friend makes homemade deodorant, much like this, and instead of using a used deodorant container, she puts it in little jars – plastic or glass or metal. Then you just take out a pea sized amount and rub on the skin after it melts a bit. It works so well! Sometimes I have an allergic reaction to the tea tree oil and have to take a short break from it and go back to the evil aluminum filled deodorant. 🙂

Why don’t you skip the tea tree oil and use lavender or eucalyptus or nothing at all?? I don’t use any essential oil because my skin is so sensitive and I don’t smell bad : ) Make sure your oil is appropriate for use on skin.

I just made some deodorant today using this recipe but instead of coconut oil, I used extra virgin olive oil, and instead of tea tree oil, I used patchouli oil. Its really firm, a pleasant yellow, and smells amaaazing. Seems to be a good alternative.

Thanks for a great deodorant recipe! I was using baking soda alone before, and it was harsh on my skin. But combined with coconut oil, cornstarch, and lavender oil, it is WAY more gentle and SUPER effective!!! Better than the natural deodorants I’ve bought in the past. I put mine in a jar & it’s going to last forever!

I just finished my second batch. I made the first batch with tea tree oil and reeeally disliked the smell. So, I made a batch of lemon lavender and it smells divine! Looking forward to trying it out, once it sets up. Thanks for the tutorial!

I love this stuff! I made a batch with lemon and lavender EOs and it smells fantastic. The one thing that I didn’t like is it’s relatively soft. Do you think melting and adding a small amount of beeswax would work with this? I thought maybe a small enough amount so that it sets a little harder and doesn’t make the stick so messy.

Hi! I have been using baking soda and water for about three years but just recently (inspired by YOU!!!) decided to try this… I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! IT NO MORE MESS! No more sticky hands! I followed the recipe but used Palma Rosa Essential Oil and home made coconut oil instead of the brand recommended and the cream still settled even in this hot hot hot caribbean weather…
THE BEST PAST IS THAT IT WORKS!!!! and I don’t make a mess in my bathroom! And I can travel mess-free! THANKS THANKS THANKS! I feel like THE WORLD should know this amazing invention!

I use a combo of tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil in water. I put in a spritz bottle. It kills bacteria and has no wax/caking agents that cause me to break out. If your sensitive to TTO try lavendar eo instead

I admit, I was skeptical. Could it really be that simple? I thought what-the-heck, try it and decide for myself. I’m a convert now. It has worked great for me. My sweetheart gave me a quizzicle look when I pulled my deodorant from the fridge, but then he just rolled his eyes and smiled. He know’s his turns coming, hehe. I know what’s in it. I don’t have any negative side effects. No animals are being harmed. The revenue goes to the resource providers and I’m reusing my old deodorant containers. It’s a win/win. Thanks and I love your book, it’s a favorite on my shelf.

I have been making this deodorant since 2010, and it still still my favorite. I have actually been tweaking with it that long! Here’s what I have found really works (for me anyway). I make it as directed, but I use 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil.. makes it easier to work with. Do Not use 3, that is way too much. Then when I’m done, I let it set in the fridge. This recipe makes about 2-3 standard size deodorant sticks, depending on size, so I generally stick all of them in the fridge to set, and just leave them there, taking them one at a time up to the bathroom as needed. After that, I just keep the one in use in the bathroom, and so on.

this is great! ive been using this for 6 months and im never going back to buying it at the store.
i was wondering though, are you at all concerned about the cornstarch being genetically modified? i just realized this! and i am usually very consious of GMO ingredients in food. whats your take? i guess we could always buy organic cornstarch.

Jackie, the reason for coconut oil is the anti bacterial propriety of this oil and its consistency. I guess you could use another oil instead with beeswax to make the right consistency and also get the anti bacterial from EO ( tee tree like in the basic recipe but you can also use lemon EO. Others that you can add are geranium and eucalyptus but their action is not as complete). Have fun trying!!

I LOVE THIS! I added lavender/tea tree essential oil and it’s wonderful. My first batch I just put into small tupperware containers; it worked great but I hated having to apply with my fingers then wash my hands after (lazy, I know!). So this time I reused an old deoderant container. It’s setting now… I have high hopes it’ll exceed my first batch :). THANK YOU!

I quartered the recipe and made enough to fill a .5oz (tavel size) deodorant container. I usually have to use clinical strength, but lately, store bought just doesn’t work and I have to change brands each time I run out. (Clinical stuff is $$$). I made this for probably 20 cents! Today is my first day with it and I have been able to make it to work dry, which is a miracle! I used lavender EO for this batch and now my husband is asking me to make him some. I figure lavender is too girly, but possibly a tea tree oil and eucalyptus EO mix might be better for a “man flavor”.

I substitute olive oil for the coconut oil, because I don’t have central air and the “room temp”melting point of coconut oil is not a plus in that situation. The olive oil allows it to harden very nicely and no bad odor. I also add geranium oil to the tea tree oil, and love, love, love the smell. I’ve not used any other deodorant for years now.

I live in Australia and I was reading this. I’m a bit uncertain about what American Cornstarch is. Here I think it’s basically a flour. Is your cornstarch more like a flour or is it actually made from corn? Thanks

Sharee–Well, I’m not sure what you call it, possibly “corn flour” which is what I believe it is called in GB. It is a very white, powdery thickening agent that feels slippery (a dry kind of slippery) to the touch. Sound familiar? If you have it, I’d love to know what you call it there! Oh, and yes, it is made from corn, but it’s a far cry from cornmeal which is coarse and grainy.

I made this deodorant and was very impressed by it. I had no body odour which was fantastic. A couple of weeks after using it, my underarms were getting itchy and now I have a brown rash under one of my underarms. I used tea tree oil in my deodorant and noticed that someone else has said they also reacted to tea tree oil. May have to try a different oil next time?